How to design and implement a drinking and driving programme pdf ...

Module 3: How to design and implement a drinking and driving programme
possibility of being detected if they have been drinking, and reduces their certainty
that detection will not occur. Prevention strategies such as alcohol screening should:
• be high profile and highly visible, using “sobriety checkpoints” or roadblock operations
to ensure all drivers (or a high percentage of drivers) are tested;
• include stationary vehicle checks at locations such as toll gates, service stations and
rest stops.
Some countries such as Australia allow for random alcohol screening, also known as
random breath testing (RBT), of any driver at any time. Other countries, such as the
United States, require traffic police to establish “probable cause” before a driver can
be effectively screened for alcohol consumption in selective breath testing (SBT).
Random versus selective breath testing
The US based Task Force on Community Preventive Services (2001) revealed that
sobriety checkpoints of both types are effective in reducing crashes involving drinking
and driving, and have sizeable economic benefits. Crashes thought to involve
drinking and driving dropped an average of 18% (for RBT checkpoints) and 20%
(for SBT checkpoints) following implementation of sobriety checkpoints, while fatal
crashes thought to involve alcohol dropped a median of 22% (for RBT checkpoints)
and 23% (for SBT checkpoints) following implementation of sobriety checkpoints.
Accurate measuring of alcohol in the bloodstream is a vital component of effective
enforcement. It is critical to have a screening device which is practical and easy to use.
Equipment that lapses into disarray after a few months or needs expensive servicing
outside the country of operation (with consequential additional costs and lack of
continuity of use of the product) should be avoided (see Appendix 2).
A minimum annual target of alcohol screening tests should be set and maintained.
Testing can take place at designated testing stations (checkpoints or roadblocks) or
during normal police interceptions. The minimum targets set should relate to the
percentage of the driving population tested during the year. A solid strategy aims to
test 1:3 drivers annually, although the more progressive enforcement bodies in richer
countries aim at 1:1 – on average every driver would expect to be tested once per year.
Targeted enforcement based on intelligence
The second enforcement method commonly used is the detection of drink-drivers at
specific locations, times, and under specific circumstances, including:
• stopping drivers as they leave selected alcohol distribution premises such as hotels,
entertainment venues, night clubs, sporting venues and gaming venues that should
be the subject of police attention on account of the high possibility that drinking
and driving may take place;
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